Accra, Dec. 10, GNA - Black Stars midfielder, Michael Essien has been short-listed for the CAF Player of the Year 2009 for the fourth year running. The five nominees were unveiled on Thursday at a press conference in Lagos, Nigeria.
The others are three-time winner, Samuel Eto'o Fils of Cameroon, Ivorian duo Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure, and Malian midfielder Seydou Keita. A statement on the CAF website culled by GNA Sports n Accra said the winner will be decided by votes from head coaches of the National Associations affiliated to CAF.
The winner will be announced at the Awards Gala to be held on February 25, 2010 at a yet to be determined venue.
Essien, who turned 27 on December 3, will be seeking to win the biggest individual prize in African football after three failed attempts. The Chelsea midfielder came second behind Malian Kanoute in 2007 and was third in 2006 and 2008.
Ex-Black Star captain, Abedi Pele, Ibrahim Razak and Ibrahim Sunday are the only Ghanaians to have been decorated with the coveted prize. Reigning African Footballer of the Year, Emmanuel Adebayor from Togo failed to make the final five.
Drogba and Eto'o are previous winners, whilst Toure and Keita have been nominated for the first time.